Apparatus for both humidification and air cleaning

ABSTRACT

Provided is a humidification and air cleaning apparatus. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus includes: a water tank storing water; a watering housing disposed in the water tank and suctioning water stored in the water tank to spray suctioned water to the outside; a watering motor providing a torque to the watering housing; a watering groove protruding inside the watering housing, suctioning water of the water tank into the watering housing when rotating, and pumping the suctioned water to an upper side of the watering housing; a nozzle disposed in the watering housing and spraying the upwardly pumped water to the outside of the watering housing; and a water curtain preventing rib disposed inside the watering housing, disposed over the watering groove, and mutually interfering with the pumped water.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35U.S.C. §119 to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/248,463 filed Oct.30, 2015 and 62/355,118 filed Jun. 27, 2016 and Korean PatentApplication Nos. 10-2015-0156254 filed Nov. 7, 2015, 10-2016-0037235filed Mar. 28, 2016 and 10-2016-0083054 filed Jun. 30, 2016, the entirecontents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention disclosed herein relates to an apparatus for bothhumidification and air cleaning.

Air conditioning apparatuses include air conditioners that control thetemperature of air, air cleaners that remove foreign substances from airto maintain air cleanliness, humidifiers that increase humidity in theair, and dehumidifiers that reduce humidity in the air.

Typical humidifiers are classified into a vibration type which atomizeswater on a vibrating plate and discharges atomized water into air and anatural evaporation type that naturally evaporates water in ahumidification filter.

The natural evaporation type of humidifier is classified into a disctype of humidifier which rotates a disc using a driving force and allowswater to naturally evaporate from the surface of the disc in the air anda humidification filter type of humidifier which allows water tonaturally evaporate from a wet humidification medium by flowing air.

In a typical humidifier, a portion of flowing air during thehumidification process is filtered by a filter. However, since the mainfunction of a typical humidifier is a humidification function, its aircleaning function is weak.

Also, since a typical humidifier has a structure in which thehumidification process is performed by adding a filtration function, atypical humidifier cannot be operated only for air filtration.

Accordingly, even in a situation where humidity is high, a typicalhumidifier inevitably performs humidification even though a user desiresair cleaning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a humidification and air cleaningapparatus which can effectively spray water from a nozzle of a wateringhousing.

The present invention also provides a humidification and air cleaningapparatus which can minimize occurrence of eccentricity due to waterdrawn into a watering housing.

The present invention also provides a humidification and air cleaningapparatus which can prevent a water curtain rotation flow inside awatering housing.

The present invention also provides a humidification and air cleaningapparatus which can minimize vibration of a watering housing through awater curtain preventing rib disposed inside a watering housing.

The objectives of the present invention are not limited to theabove-mentioned objectives, and other objectives that are not mentionedwill be clearly understood by persons skilled in the art from thefollowing description.

Embodiments of the present invention provide humidification and aircleaning apparatuses including: a water tank storing water; a wateringhousing disposed in the water tank and draw in water stored in the watertank to spray drawn water to the outside; a watering motor providing atorque to the watering housing; a watering groove protruding inside thewatering housing, drawing water of the water tank into the wateringhousing when rotating, and pumping the drawn water to an upper side ofthe watering housing; a nozzle disposed in the watering housing andspraying the upwardly pumped water to the outside of the wateringhousing; and a water curtain preventing rib disposed inside the wateringhousing, disposed over the watering groove, and mutually interferingwith the pumped water.

In some embodiments, the water curtain preventing rib may longitudinallyextend in upward and downward directions.

In some embodiments, the water curtain preventing rib may be disposed inplurality.

In some embodiments, the nozzle may be located between a higher heightand a lower height of the water curtain preventing rib.

In some embodiments, the water curtain preventing rib may be disposed inplurality, and each of water curtain preventing ribs may belongitudinally disposed in upward and downward directions. Also, thenozzle may be disposed between the water curtain preventing ribs.

In some embodiments, the watering housing may include: a first wateringhousing spaced from a undersurface of an inner side of the water tank bya suction gap and having upper and a lower sides thereof opened,respectively; a second watering housing having upper and lower sidesopened, assembled with an upper end of the first watering housing, andcommunicating with the inside of the first watering housing; a wateringhousing cover coupled with an upper end of the watering housing andcovering an upper surface of the second watering housing; a powertransmission unit disposed in at least one of the first wateringhousing, the second watering housing and the watering housing cover andreceiving a torque from the watering motor; and a nozzle disposed in atleast one of the first watering housing and the second watering housingand discharging pumped water to the outside when the watering housingrotates, wherein the water curtain preventing rib is disposed in thesecond watering housing.

In some embodiments, the watering groove may be disposed in the wateringhousing.

In some embodiments, the watering groove may be connected to the powertransmission unit.

In some embodiments, the humidification and air cleaning apparatus mayfurther include a power transmission shaft receiving a torque from thewatering motor and coupled to the power transmission unit, wherein thepower transmission shaft is disposed inside the watering housing.

In some embodiments, the watering groove may be connected to the powertransmission unit.

In some embodiments, a portion of the power transmission unit may bedisposed inside the first watering housing.

In some embodiments, the watering groove may longitudinally extend inupward and downward directions, and may be connected to the powertransmission unit.

In some embodiments, the water curtain preventing rib may be disposed inplurality, and the nozzle may be disposed between the water curtainpreventing ribs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the present invention, and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrateexemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with thedescription, serve to explain principles of the present invention. Inthe drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a humidification and aircleaning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded front view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an air flow of the humidification and aircleaning apparatus according to the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the humidification moduleshown in FIG. 2 when seen from the lower side;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the humidification module shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a left cross-sectional view of the humidification module shownin FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating the mounting body shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line C-C of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a first coupler shown in FIG.12.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of FIG. 13 viewed from bottom;

FIG. 15 is a side sectional view of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a second coupler shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of FIG. 16 viewed from bottom;

FIG. 18 is a side sectional view of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of D shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of E shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of F shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of G shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line K-K of FIG. 10;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line L-L of FIG. 10;

FIG. 25 is a perspective view illustrating an installation state of awatering housing shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 26 is a front view of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line M-M of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a plan view of FIG. 25;

FIG. 29 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a watering housingshown in FIG. 25;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view when seen from the lower side of FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a front view of FIG. 29;

FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line N-N of FIG. 31;

FIG. 33 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a powertransmission shaft and a bushing shown in FIG. 29; and

FIG. 34 is a front view of FIG. 33.

FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line O-O of FIG. 33.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Advantages and features of the present invention, and implementationmethods thereof will be clarified through following embodimentsdescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. The presentinvention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, theseembodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough andcomplete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention tothose skilled in the art. Further, the present invention is only definedby scopes of claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a humidification and aircleaning apparatus according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 isan exploded front view of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectionalview of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an air flow of thehumidification and air cleaning apparatus according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

A humidification and air cleaning apparatus according to an embodimentof the present invention may include a clean module 100 and ahumidification module 200 disposed over the clean module 100.

The clean module 100 may take in and filter external air, and mayprovide filtered air to the humidification module 200. Thehumidification module 200 may be supplied with filtered air, may performhumidification to provide moisture, and may discharge humidified air tothe outside.

The humidification module 200 may include a water tank 30 for storingwater. The water tank 30 may be separable from the clean module 100 whenthe humidification module 200 is separated. The humidification module200 may be disposed over the air clean module 100.

A user can separate the humidification module 200 from the clean module100, and can clean the humidification module 200 that is separated. Auser may also clean the inside of the clean module 100 from which thehumidification module 200 is separated. When the humidification module200 is separated, the upper surface of the clean module 100 may beopened to a user. The clean module 100 may be cleaned after separatelyremoving a filter assembly 10 described later.

A user may supply water into the humidification module 200. Thehumidification module 200 may have a water supply flow passage formedtherein to supply water from the outside to the water tank 30.

The water supply flow passage may be configured to supply water into thewater tank 30 at any moment. For example, even when the humidificationmodule 200 is operating, water can be supplied through the water supplyflow passage. For example, even when the humidification module 200 iscoupled to the clean module 100, water can be supplied through the watersupply flow passage. For example, even when the humidification module200 is decoupled from the clean module 100, water can be suppliedthrough the water supply flow passage.

The clean module 100 and the humidification module 200 may be connectedto each other through a connection flow passage 103. Since thehumidification module 200 is separable, the connection flow passage 103may be distributedly formed at the clean module 100 and thehumidification module 200.

The connection flow passage formed in the clean module 100 may bedefined as a clean connection flow passage 104, and the connection flowpassage formed in the humidification module 200 may be defined as ahumidification connection flow passage 105. When the humidificationmodule 200 is mounted on the clean module 100, for the first time, theconnection flow passage may be connected and the flow passage of air maybe configured accurately.

The flow of air passing through the clean module 100 and thehumidification module 200 will be described in more detail later.

A configuration of the clean module 100 will be described in more detailas follows.

The clean module 100 may include a base body 110 where an intake flowpassage 101 and a clean connection flow passage 104 are formed, a filterassembly 10 disposed detachable from the base body 110 and performingfiltration on flowing air, and an air blowing unit 20 disposed insidethe base body 110 and flowing air.

External air may be entered into the base body through the intake flowpassage 101. The air filtered in the filter assembly 10 may be providedto the humidification module 200 through the clean connection flowpassage 104.

In this embodiment, the base body 110 may be configured to have twoparts.

The base body 110 may include the lower body 130 defining the exteriorthereof and having an inlet hole 110 formed in the undersurface thereof,and the mounting body 120 defining the exterior thereof and coupled tothe upper side of the lower body 130.

A display module 160 may be disposed in at least one of the clean module100 or the humidification module 200 to display the operational state toa user. In this embodiment, the display module 160 may be disposed inthe base body 110 to display the operational state of the humidificationand air cleaning apparatus to a user.

The mounting body 120 and the lower body 130 may be assembledintegrally. Unlike this embodiment, the mounting body 120 and the lowerbody 130 may be manufactured as one.

The humidification module 200 may be detachably mounted on the upperside of the mounting body 120 and support the weight of thehumidification module 200.

The mounting body 120 may provide a structure where the water tank 30 ismounted stably. The mounting body 120 may have a structure where thewater tank 30 of the humidification module 200 is separable. Themounting body 120 may have a concave structure for receiving the watertank 30.

The mounting body 120 may be concavely formed inside the base body 110and the water tank 30 may be received inside the base body 110. Throughthis, the center of gravity of an air cleaner may be further moved tothe lower side.

An air cleaner according to this embodiment may receive power throughthe clean module 100 and provide power to the humidification module 200through the clean module 100. Since the humidification module 200 has astructure separable from the clean module 100, the clean module 100 andthe humidification module 200 may be provided with a separable powersupply structure.

Since the clean module 100 and the humidification module 200 areassembled through the mounting body 120, a connector 260 may be disposedin the mounting body 120 to provide power for the humidification module200. A top connector 270 may be disposed in the top cover assembly 230,and may be separably connected to the connector 260. When the top coverassembly 230 is placed, the top connector 270 may be disposed over theconnector 260. The top cover assembly 230 may be supplied withelectricity from the connector 260 via the top connector 270.

The filter assembly 10 may be detachably assembled with the base body110.

The filter assembly 10 may provide the filtering flow passage 102, andmay filter external air.

The filter assembly 10 may have a structure that is detachable from thebase body 110 in a horizontal direction. The filter assembly 10 may bedisposed so as to cross the flowing direction of air that flows upstreamin a vertical direction. The filter assembly 10 may be disposed in ahorizontal direction that orthogonally crosses the direction of airflowing from a lower side to an upper side.

The filter assembly 10 may slide in a horizontal direction with respectto the base body 110.

The air blowing unit 20 may generate flowing of air. The air blowingunit 20 may be disposed inside the base body 110, and may allow air toflow from the lower side to the upper side.

The air blowing unit 20 may include a blower housing 150, a blower motor22, and a blower fan 24. In this embodiment, the blower motor 22 may bedisposed at an upper side, and the blower fan 24 may be disposed at alower side.

The blower housing 150 may be disposed inside the base body 110. Theblower housing 150 may provide a flow passage of flowing air. The blowermotor 22 and the blower fan 24 may be disposed in the blower housing150.

The blower housing 150 may be disposed over the filter assembly 10, andmay be disposed under the mounting body 120.

The blower fan 24 may be a centrifugal fan, and may admit air from thelower side thereof and discharge air to the outside in a radialdirection. The blower fan 24 may discharge air to the upper side and theoutside in a radial direction. The outer end of the blower fan 24 may bedisposed to direct to the upper side in a radial direction.

The blower motor 22 may be disposed over the blower fan 24 to minimizecontact with flowing air. The blower motor 22 may not be located on theairflow passage by the blower fan 24.

The humidification module 200 may include a water tank 30, a wateringunit 40, a humidification medium 50, a visual body 210, and a top coverassembly 230. The water tank 30 may store water for humidification, andmay be detachably disposed over the clean module 100. The watering unit40 may be disposed in the water tank 30, and may spray water in thewater tank 30. The humidification medium 50 may be wetted with watersprayed from the watering unit 40, and may provide moisture to flowingair. The visual body 210 may be coupled to the water tank 30, and may beformed of a transparent material. The top cover assembly 230 may bedetachably disposed over the visual body 210, and may include adischarge flow passage 107 through which air is discharged and a watersupply flow passage 109 through which water is supplied.

The water tank 30 may be mounted on the mounting body 120. The watering40 may be disposed inside the water tank 30, and may rotate inside thewater tank 30.

The watering unit 40 may draw water inside the water tank 30, upwardlypump the drawn water, and then spray the pumped water toward the outsidein a radial direction. The watering unit 40 may include the wateringhousing 800 that draws water, upwardly pumps drawn water, and thensprays pumped water toward the outside in a radiation direction.

Water sprayed from the watering housing 800 may wet the humidificationmedium 50. Water sprayed from the watering housing 800 may be sprayedtoward at least one of the visual body 210 and the humidification medium50.

In this embodiment, the watering housing 800 may spray water to theinner side surface of the visual body 210, and sprayed water may flowdown along the inner side surface of the visual body 210. Dropletsformed in a form of water drop may be formed on the inner side surfaceof the visual body 210, and a user can see droplets through the visualbody 210.

The visual body 210 may be coupled to the water tank 30, and may belocated over the water tank 30. At least a portion of visual body 210may be formed of a material through which a user can see the inside.

Droplets formed on the inner side surface of the visual body 210 mayimplement a form of raindrops. Droplets flowing down from the visualbody 210 may wet the humidification medium. 50.

A display module 160 may be disposed outside the visual body 210. Thedisplay module 160 may be coupled to any one of the visual body 210 andthe mounting body 120. In this embodiment, the display module 160 may bedisposed at the mounting body 120.

When the humidification module 200 is placed, the outer surface of thevisual body 210 may adhere closely to the display module 160. At least aportion of the surface of the display module 160 may be formed of amaterial that reflects light.

Droplets formed on the visual body 210 may also be projected onto thesurface of the display module 160. Accordingly, a user can observe themotion of droplets at both visual body 210 and display module 160.

The water tank 30 may include a water tank inlet 31 to allow air to passthere through. The air supplied from the clean module 100 may flow intothe humidification module 200 through the water tank inlet 31.

The humidification medium 50 may include a water tank humidificationmedium 51 disposed at the connection flow passage 103, and a dischargehumidification medium 55 disposed at the discharge flow passage 107.

The water tank humidification medium 51 may be disposed on theconnection flow passage 103 and in this embodiment, may be disposed atthe water tank inlet 31 of the water tank 30. The water tankhumidification medium 51 may be disposed inside the water tank inlet 31and provide humidification on air passing through the water tank inlet31.

The water tank humidification medium 51 may cover the water tank inlet31, and air may penetrate the water tank humidification medium 51 toflow into the water tank 30.

The discharge humidification medium 55 may be disposed on the dischargeflow passage 107. The discharge humidification medium 55 may be disposedon at least one of the visual body 21 or the top cover assembly 230. Inthis embodiment, the discharge humidification medium 55 may be disposedat the top cover assembly 230.

The discharge humidification medium 55 may cover the discharge flowpassage 107, and air may penetrate the discharge humidification medium55 to flow to the outside of the top cover assembly 230.

Hereinafter, the flow of air will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

When the air blowing unit 20 operates, external air may flow into thebase body 110 through the intake flow passage 101 formed at a lower sideof the base body 110. Air entered through the intake flow passage 101may pass the clean module 100 and the humidification module 200 whilemoving upward, and may be discharged to the outside through thedischarge flow passage 107 formed at an upper side of the humidificationmodule 200.

The air entered to the intake flow passage 101 may pass through thefiltering flow passage 102 of the filter assembly 10. As the air passesthrough the filtering flow passage 102, the filter assembly 10 mayfilter external air.

Air passing the filtering flow passage 102 may flow to the connectionflow passage through the air blowing unit 20. After the air passingthrough the filtering flow passage 102 is pressed by the blower fan 24,it flows to the connection flow passage 103 along the blower fan housing150.

Since the air blowing unit 20 is disposed next to the filtering flowpassage 102, adherence of foreign substances like dust on the blower fan24 can be minimized.

If the air blowing unit 20 is disposed before the filtering flow passage102, foreign substances may be attached to the blower fan 24, and due tothis, a cleaning cycle may be shortened.

Also, since the air blowing unit 20 is disposed at the front of thehumidification flow passage 106, adherence of moisture on the surface ofthe blower fan 24 can be minimized. When moisture adheres to the surfaceof the blower fan 24, foreign substances may adhere to the surface ofthe blower fan 24 or molds may be likely to grow on the blower fan 24.

Since the air blowing unit 20 is disposed between the filtering flowpassage 102 and the humidification flow passage 106, the adherence offoreign substances may be minimized and the flow pressure of air may beprovided appropriately.

The connection flow passage 103 may include the clean connection flowpassage 104 formed in the clean module 100 and the humidificationconnection flow passage 105 formed in the humidification module 200.

When the humidification module 200 is placed on the mounting body 120,the clean connection flow passage 104 and the humidification connectionflow passage 105 may be connected to each other. When the humidificationmodule 200 is in a separated state, the clean connection flow passage104 and the humidification connection flow passage 105 may be exposed tothe outside.

The clean connection flow passage 104 may be formed in the mounting body120, and the humidification connection flow passage 105 may be formed inthe humidification module 200.

The clean connection flow passage 104 and the humidification connectionflow passage 105 may also be formed in a form of duct to form a clearflow passage. In this embodiment, when the connection flow passage 103is distributed as a partial structure of the mounting body 120 and apartial structure of the water tank 30 and the humidification module 200is mounted on the mounting body 120, the connection flow passage 103 maybe formed.

In this embodiment, the mounting body 120 may provide the outerstructure of the connection flow passage 103 and the water tank 30 mayprovide the inner structure of the connection flow passage 103.

That is, the connection flow passage 103 may be formed between theoutside of the water tank 30 and the inside of the mounting body 120.Therefore, the connection flow passage 103 may be formed between thewater tank 30 and the mounting body 120. The water tank 30 may form aninner wall of the connection flow passage 103 and the mounting body 120may form an outer wall of the connection flow passage 103.

In such a manner, the structure of the connection flow passage 103 mayminimize a structure for forming a flow passage through a distributedarrangement. The connection flow passage 103 may be formed in a verticaldirection.

Air passing through the connection flow passage 103 may flow into thehumidification flow passage 106. The humidification flow passage 106 maybe a section where moisture is supplied. In this embodiment, thehumidification flow passage 106 may be a flow passage from the watertank humidification medium 51 to the discharge humidification medium 55.

While air passes through the water tank humidification medium 51,moisture may be supplied to the air in the connection flow passage 51.Then, water drops scattered from the watering unit 40 and moisturesevaporated from the water tank 30 may be provided into the water tank30.

As air passes through the discharge humidification medium 55, moisturemay be supplied again to the air in the water tank 30.

Moisture may be supplied in the humidification flow passage 106 throughthe water tank humidification medium 51, the inside of the water tank30, and the discharge humidification medium 55.

Air passing through the discharge humidification medium 55 may beexposed to the outside through the discharge flow passage 107.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the humidification moduleshown in FIG. 2 when seen from the lower side. FIG. 7 is a front view ofthe humidification module shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectionalview taken along line A-A of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a left cross-sectionalview of the humidification module shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 10 is across-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 9. FIG. 11 is a planview illustrating the mounting body shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 12 is across-sectional view taken along a line C-C of FIG. 11.

Referring to the drawing, the watering unit 40 may rotate the wateringhousing 800 disposed inside the water tank 30 and spay water storedinside the water tank 30 to the inner side surface of the visual body210 through the rotation of the watering housing 800.

The watering unit 40 may provide a structure for rotating the wateringhousing 800. The watering unit 40 may provide a power transmissionmodule 600 for delivering power to the watering housing 800 in aseparable structure of the water tank 30 and the upper body 120.

A structure of the watering unit 40 will be described in more detail asfollows.

The watering unit 40 may include the watering housing 800, a wateringmotor 42, and the power transmission module 600.

The watering unit 40 may include a watering housing 800 disposed insidethe water tank 30, drawing the water of the water tank 30 into theinside as rotating, pumping the drawn water upwardly, and dischargingthe pumped water to the outside, a watering motor 42 for providing atorque to the watering housing 800, and a power transmission module 600for delivering a torque of the watering motor 42 to the watering housing800.

After pumping the water stored in the water tank 30 upwardly, thewatering housing 800 may have a configuration for spraying the pumpedwater to the outside in a radial direction.

The watering motor 42 may have a configuration for providing a torquefor rotating the watering housing 800.

The power transmission module 600 may have a configuration fortransmitting a torque of the watering motor 42 to the watering housing800.

The watering housing 800, the watering motor 42, and the powertransmission module 600 may be all installed at the water tank 30. Inthis case, a user may be required to lift the watering motor 42 whenseparating the humidification module 200. Additionally, in a case thateven the watering motor 42 is assembled to the humidification module200, if the humidification module 200 is required to be separated fromthe clean module 100, the power supply structure of the watering motor42 should be separable.

Therefore, this embodiment may suggest a structure where the heavywatering motor 42 is disposed at the mounting body 120 and only thewatering housing 800 and the power transmission module 600 areseparated. A structure as in this embodiment may minimize the weight ofthe separable humidification module 200.

In this embodiment, the watering housing 800 and the watering motor 42may be separable. The watering housing 800 may be installed inside thehumidification module 200, and the watering motor 42 may be installedinside the clean module 100. When the humidification module 200 isseparated, the watering housing 800 may be separated from the cleanmodule 100 together with the water tank 30.

In order for a separation structure of the watering housing 800 and thewatering motor 42, in this embodiment, the power transmission module 600may be designed to be separable.

Hereinafter, a power transmission module will be described in moredetail.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a first coupler shown in FIG.12. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of FIG. 13 viewed from bottom. FIG. 15is a side sectional view of FIG. 13. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of asecond coupler shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of FIG. 16viewed from bottom. FIG. 18 is a side sectional view of FIG. 16. FIG. 19is an enlarged view of D shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 20 is an enlarged view ofE shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of F shown in FIG. 8.FIG. 22 is an enlarged view of G shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 23 is across-sectional view taken along a line K-K of FIG. 10. FIG. 24 is across-sectional view taken along a line L-L of FIG. 10.

The power transmission module 600 may include separable couplers 610 and620 for delivering a torque of the watering motor 42 to the wateringhousing 800.

A coupler disposed in the clean module 100 and coupled to the wateringmotor 42 may be defined as the first coupler 610.

A coupler disposed in the humidification module 200 and separablycoupled to the first coupler 610 may be defined as the second coupler620.

One of the first coupler 610 and the second coupler 620 may have a maleshape, and the other may have a female shape. In this embodiment thefirst coupler 610 may have a male shape, and the second coupler 620 mayhave a female shape. In this embodiment, the first coupler 610 may beseparably coupled to and inserted into the second coupler 620. Unlikethis embodiment, the second coupler 620 may be coupled to and insertedinto the first coupler 610.

The watering motor 42 may be installed at the mounting body 120. Thewatering motor 42 may be located over and spaced from the blower motor22. The water tank 30 may be mounted inside the mounting body 120. Whenthe water tank 30 is placed on the mounting body 120, the first andsecond couplers 610 and 620 may be power-transmittably connected.

The watering motor shaft 43 of the watering motor 42 may be disposed soas to face upward. The first coupler 610 may be installed on the upperend of the watering motor shaft 43.

The mounting body 120 may include a mounting inner body 122 where thewater tank 30 is mounted, a mounting outer body 128 coupled to themounting inner body 122, disposed outside the mounting inner body 122,and forming the appearance of the base body 110 as coupled to the lowerbody 130, a mounting guide 124 disposed between the mounting inner body122 and the mounting outer body 128 and guiding air to the upper side ofthe mounting inner body 122, and an outer visual body 124 coupled to themounting outer body 128, formed of a transparent material, and disposedoutside the visual body 120.

The first coupler 610 may be disposed at the mounting inner body 122.The first coupler 610 may be disposed inside the mounting inner body122. The first coupler 610 may be disposed at the mounting inner body122 and exposed upwardly.

The first coupler 610 may be manufactured in a form that an uppersection is narrow and a lower section is wide. The first coupler 610 maybe in a form such as a cone and a pyramid.

The first coupler 610 may be formed with a section that becomes narroweras it goes upwardly. A teeth shape may be formed at the outercircumferential surface of the first coupler 610. The teeth shape of thefirst coupler 610 may be disposed radially on the basis of a wateringmotor shaft 43. The teeth shape of the first coupler 610 may form aserration with respect to a circumferential direction of the wateringmotor shaft 43.

The first coupler 610 may include a first coupler body 612, a firstserration 614 formed at the outer side surface of the first coupler body612, a motor shaft coupling part formed inside the first coupler body612, formed with an open lower side, and including a watering motorshaft 43 inserted thereinto, a motor shaft groove 616 formed at themotor shaft coupling part 615 and providing a coupling power with thewatering motor shaft 43, and an entry prevention bump 618 for limitingan insertion depth of the watering motor shaft 43.

The upper surface of the first coupler 610 may be formed blocked.Therefore, the upper side surface of the first coupler body 612 isformed as a plane. Unlike this embodiment, the upper side surface of thefirst coupler body 612 may be formed open and may communicate with themotor shaft coupling part 615.

The first serration 614 may protrude in a radial direction with respectto the watering motor shaft 43. The first serration 614 may be formedextending long in a vertical direction. The first serration 614 may bedisposed in plurality along a circumferential direction on the basis ofthe watering motor shaft 43. The first serration 614 may be formedinclined in a vertical direction. The first serration 614 has aninclination formed in a direction closer to the center axis of thewatering motor shaft 43 as it goes upwardly.

The upper side end of the watering motor shaft 43 may be inserted intothe motor shaft coupling part 615. The watering groove 616 may beassembled with the watering motor shaft 43 in a force fitting form. Aprotrusion (not shown) corresponding to the watering groove 616 may beformed at the watering motor shaft 43.

The entry prevention bump 618 may be supported by the watering motorshaft 43 and when the first coupler 610 is assembled, may limit anexcessive movement.

The first coupler 610 may be inserted into the second coupler 620 andmay deliver a torque when coupled.

The second coupler 620 may include a second coupler body 622, a couplercoupling part 625 formed inside the second coupler body 622, having alower side formed open, and including the first coupler 610 insertedthereinto, a second serration 624 formed at the inner side surface ofthe second coupler body 622 and teeth-engaged with the first serration614, a power transmission shaft coupling part 627 formed at the secondcoupler body 622 and including the power transmission shaft 640 coupledto deliver a torque to the watering housing 800, and a powertransmission shaft groove 626 formed at the power transmission shaftcoupling part 627 and providing a coupling power with the powertransmission shaft 640.

The form of the coupler coupling part 625 may correspond to theappearance of the first coupler body 612. The first coupler body 612 maybe inserted into the coupler coupling part 625. The first coupler 610and the second coupler 620 may be separable vertically and form a mutualstopping in a rotational direction.

The power transmission shaft 640 may be disposed at the upper side ofthe second coupler 620 and inserted into the power transmission shaftcoupling part 627. The power transmission shaft 640 may be coupled withthe power transmission shaft groove 626 in a force fitting form.

The power transmission shaft groove 626 may be disposed in a radialdirection on the basis of the watering motor shaft 43 and formedconcavely.

In this embodiment, the power transmission shaft coupling part 627 andthe coupler coupling part 626 may be formed as a connected space. Unlikethis embodiment, the power transmission shaft coupling part 627 and thecoupler coupling part 626 may be formed separately.

The cross-sectional area of the power transmission shaft coupling part627 may be formed smaller than the cross-sectional area of the couplercoupling part 625. Through this, a step may be formed between the powertransmission shaft coupling part 627 and the coupler coupling part 626and may limit the movement of the first coupler 610.

The second serration 625 may have a form corresponding to the firstserration 614 and they may be teeth-engaged with each other.

The watering motor shaft 43 may be located at the lower side of thefirst coupler 610 and the power transmission shaft 640 may be located atthe upper side of the second coupler 62. The watering motor shaft 43 andthe power transmission shaft 640 may be disposed in a line.

The first coupler 610 and the second coupler 620 may provide a clutchfunction. Only when the first coupler 610 and the second coupler 620 arecoupled to each other, a torque of the watering motor shaft 43 may bedelivered to the power transmission shaft 640.

Since the lower cross-sectional area of the coupler coupling part 625 isconfigured in a narrow form, when the humidification module 100 ismounted, the coupling of the first coupler 610 and the second coupler620 may be easily implemented.

Even if the first coupler 610 and the second coupler 620 are notaccurately arranged in a vertical direction, the position alignment maybe implemented along the first and second serrations 614 and 624.

The power transmission module 600 may be for delivering a torque of thewatering motor 42 to the watering housing 800. In this embodiment, inrelation to the power transmission module 600, most of the configurationmay be installed at the water tank 30 and a partial configuration suchas the first coupler 610 may be installed at the mounting body 120.

The power transmission module 600 may include a power transmissionhousing 630 disposed inside the column 35 of the water tank 30, a powertransmission shaft 640 disposed inside the power transmission housing630, protruding upwardly as penetrating the power transmission housing630, and providing a torque to the watering housing 800, a bearing 670disposed between the power transmission shaft 640 and the powertransmission housing 630, a second coupler 620 coupled to the lower endof the power transmission shaft 640 and delivering a torque to the powertransmission shaft 640, and a first coupler 610 coupled to the wateringmotor shaft 43, detachably coupled to the second coupler 620, anddelivering a torque of the watering motor shaft 43 to the second coupler620 when coupled to the second coupler 620.

In this embodiment, in order to prevent the power transmission module600 from contacting water, it may be installed inside the column 35.

In this embodiment, the power transmission housing 630, the powertransmission shaft 640, the bearing 670, and the second coupler 620 maybe disposed inside the column 35.

The power transmission shaft 640 may be installed to verticallypenetrate the power transmission housing 630. The power transmissionshaft 640 may rotate while penetrating the power transmission housing630.

The power transmission housing 630 may be formed of a metallic material.The power transmission housing 630 may be formed of a highcorrosion-resistant aluminum or brass.

The power transmission housing 630 may be installed inside the watertank 30. An insertion hole 39 for exposing the first coupler 610 may beformed at the water tank 30. The power transmission housing 630 may sealthe upper side of the insertion hole 39.

The power transmission shaft 640 may penetrate the power transmissionhousing 630 vertically. The upper end of the power transmission shaft640 may be coupled to the watering housing 800 and its lower end may becoupled to the second coupler 620.

In this embodiment, the second coupler 620 may be located at theundersurface upper side of the water tank 30, and may be disposed insidethe power transmission housing 630. Unlike this embodiment, the secondcoupler 620 may be disposed at the undersurface lower side of the watertank 30.

The bearing 670 may be disposed between the power transmission housing630 and the power transmission shaft 640. In this embodiment, the powertransmission shaft 640 may be disposed to penetrate the bearing 670.

The power transmission housing 630 may include a bearing housing 650having an open upper side and lower side, a housing cap 660 coupled tothe upper side of the bearing housing 650, where the power transmissionshaft 640 penetrates vertically, an shaft gasket 680 disposed betweenthe housing cap 660 and the power transmission shaft 640 and insertedinto and fixed to the housing cap 660, and a housing elastic member 690installed between the bearing 670 and the housing cap 660 to provideelasticity.

A bearing support end 641 for supporting the bearing 670 may be formedat the power transmission shaft 640. The bearing 670 may be supported bythe bearing support end 641. The lower diameter of the bearing supportend 641 may be formed greater than the upper diameter. The bearing 680may be supported by the bearing support end 641 after inserted from theupper side of the power transmission shaft 640.

The housing cap 660 may be coupled to the upper end of the bearinghousing 650. The housing cap 660 may be inserted into and fixed to thebearing housing 650. The housing cap 660 may be formed in a ring shape.A hollow 661 may be formed inside the housing cap 660 and the powertransmission shaft 640 may penetrate the hollow 661 vertically.

The housing cap 660 may include a housing cap body 662 supported by thebearing housing 650 and having a hollow 661 that the power transmissionshaft 640 penetrates and a cap support part 664 formed at the housingcap body 662 and supporting the shaft gasket 680.

The cap support part 664 may be formed protruding toward the powertransmission shaft 640. The shaft gasket 680 may be supported by the capsupport part 664.

The housing cap 660 may be disposed under the upper side of the column35. A column opening part 39 that the power transmission shaft 640penetrates may be formed at the column 35.

The housing cap 660 may support the shaft gasket 680 and allow the shaftgasket 680 to closely contact the inner upper side of the column 35.

The shaft gasket 680 may be formed of an elastic material.

The shaft gasket 680 may prevent the water of the water tank 30 fromflowing into the column 35. Additionally, the shaft gasket 680 mayprevent water from flowing into the bearing housing 650.

The shaft gasket 680 may include a gasket body 682 closely contactingthe cap support part 664 and a gasket diaphragm 684 protruding from thegasket body 682 toward the power transmission shaft 640.

The gasket body 682 may be formed in an “L”-shaped section and the outerside and the lower side may be supported by the housing cap 660. Thegasket diaphragm 684 may be formed integrally with the gasket body 682.

The gasket diaphragm 684 may closely contact the outer side of the powertransmission shaft 640. The gasket diaphragm 684 may be formed in two ina vertical direction and prevent a water flow doubly.

The housing elastic member 690 may be disposed between the housing cap660 and the bearing 670. The housing elastic member 690 may have anupper end elastically supporting the housing cap 660 and a lower endelastically supporting the bearing 670.

The housing elastic member 690 may press the bearing 670 downwardlythrough elastic force. The bearing 670 may be supported by the bearingsupport end 641 through the housing elastic member 690.

The housing elastic member 690 may minimize the vibration of the bearing670 when the power transmission shaft 640 rotates.

Although the power transmission housing 630 is installed inside thecolumn 35 in this embodiment, unlike this embodiment, the powertransmission housing 630 may be exposed to the inside of the water tank30.

In this embodiment, the power transmission shaft 640 may be installedextending long in a vertical direction. Since the power transmissionshaft 640 is installed extending long in a vertical direction, thecapacity of the water tank 30 may be easily increased to a desiredcapacity.

If the capacity of the water tank 30 is small, the second coupler 620may be directly installed to the watering housing 800. In this case, acomposition such as the power transmission shaft 640 and the bearing 670may be omitted and accordingly, the structure becomes simpler.

If the capacity of the water tank 30 is large, the watering housing 800having a long vertical length may be required. If the length of thewatering housing 800 becomes long, vibration occurs during rotation. Bysuch a deformation or a speed difference, a large amount of vibrationmay occur from the watering housing 800.

By such a deformation or a speed difference, a large amount of vibrationmay occur from the watering housing 800. Especially, vibration may befurther increased by the water drawn into the watering housing 800 andpumped. When the water drawn into the watering housing 800 is disposedeccentrically, greater vibration may occur.

In this embodiment, since the power transmission shaft 640 is coupled toeach of the center of gravity and the upper end of the watering housing800 as extending long in a vertical direction, the above issue may beresolved.

That is, in a structure as in this embodiment, when the height of thewatering housing 800 increases as the height of the water tank 30increases, vibration may be minimized.

Hereinafter, a watering housing according to a first embodiment of thepresent invention will be described in more detail.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view illustrating an installation state of awatering housing shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 26 is a front view of FIG. 25.FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line M-M of FIG. 26.FIG. 28 is a plan view of FIG. 25. FIG. 29 is an exploded perspectiveview illustrating a watering housing shown in FIG. 25. FIG. 30 is aperspective view when seen from the lower side of FIG. 29. FIG. 31 is afront view of FIG. 29. FIG. 32 is a cross-sectional view taken along aline N-N of FIG. 31.

The watering housing 800 may be a configuration for spraying waterstored in the water tank 30. The watering housing 800 may be a componentfor spraying water stored in the water tank 30.

The watering housing 800 may rotate by a torque of a watering motor 42,and upon rotation, may draw water stored in the water tank 30 and thenpump water upward. Water pumped into the watering housing 800 may bedischarged through a nozzle 410.

A pump groove 810 may be formed at the inner side surface of thewatering housing 800. The pump groove 810 may improve the pumpingefficiency. The pump groove 810 may protrude from the inner side surfaceof the watering housing 800. The pump groove 810 may longitudinallyextend in a vertical direction. The pump groove 810 may be radiallydisposed around the watering motor shaft 43.

The lower end of the watering housing 800 may be spaced from theundersurface of the water tank 30 by a certain gap to form a suction gap801. Water of the water tank 30 may be drawn into the watering housing800 through the suction gap 801.

The watering housing 800 may be downwardly opened. The watering housing800 may have a cup shape. The watering housing 800 may have an invertedcup shape. A housing space 805 may be formed inside the watering housing800.

The column 35 of the water tank 30 may be located inside the wateringhousing 800, and a power transmission module 600 may be disposed insidethe column 35. The watering housing 800 may be disposed to cover thecolumn 35.

The watering housing 800 may be formed such that the horizontal sectionthereof gradually expands in an upward direction. The column 35 may beformed such that the horizontal section thereof is gradually reduced inan upward direction. The shapes of the watering housing 800 and thecolumn 35 may be implemented in order to efficiently pump water. Thecapacity of housing space 805 may gradually increase in an upwarddirection.

When the watering housing 800 rotates, drawn water may adhere closely tothe inner circumferential surface of the watering housing 800 by acentrifugal force. The pump groove 810 formed on the innercircumferential surface of the watering housing 800 may provide a torqueto water drawn to the inside.

A nozzle 410 may be disposed in the watering housing 800 to dischargedrawn water to the outside. In this embodiment, the nozzle 410 may bedisposed so as to discharge water in a horizontal direction. Pumpedwater may be discharged through the nozzle 410.

In this embodiment, water discharged out of the nozzle 410 may besprayed to the visual body 210.

The number of nozzles 410 may vary with the design conditions. In thisembodiment, the nozzle 410 may be disposed in plurality while havingdifferent heights from each other in the watering housing 800. A nozzlethat is disposed at an upper side of the watering housing 800 may bedefined as a high-speed nozzle, and a nozzle that is disposed at amiddle side of the watering housing 800 may be defined as a normalnozzle.

Only when the watering housing 800 rotates at a high speed, water may bedischarged out of the high-speed nozzle. The watering housing 800 may bedisposed such that water is not discharged through the high-speed nozzleat a usual rotation speed. The normal nozzle may discharge water in allstages where a watering housing ordinarily operates.

The high-speed nozzle may be disposed in plurality. The normal nozzlemay be disposed in plurality.

When the watering housing 800 rotates at a usual rotation speed, pumpedwater may rise at least higher than the normal nozzle. When the wateringhousing 800 rotates at a high speed, pumped water may rise to the sameheight as and higher than the high-speed nozzle.

The high-speed nozzle may be disposed in plurality in a circumferentialdirection of the watering housing 800. The normal nozzle may be alsodisposed in plurality in a circumferential direction of the wateringhousing 800.

When the watering housing 800 does not rotate, water may not bedischarged through the nozzle 410. When a user operates only a cleanmode (for example, a mode in which a clean module operates but ahumidification module stops), the watering unit 40 may not operate, andonly the blower unit 20 may operate. When a user operates only thehumidification mode or operates the clean mode and the humidificationmode, the watering housing 800 may rotate, and water may be dischargedout of the nozzle 410.

The water discharged out of the nozzle 410 may be sprayed to the innerside surface of the visual body 210. Since the watering housing 800rotates, the water discharged from the nozzle 410 may rotate whilehitting the inner side surface of the visual body 210.

A user may visually check through the visual body 210 that water issprayed. This spraying of water may mean that humidification mode isoperating.

Through the spraying of water, a user can intuitively check thathumidification mode is operating.

Droplets may be formed on the visual body 210 by sprayed water, and thedroplets may flow down.

In this embodiment, the watering housing 800 may have three parts.

Unlike this embodiment, the watering housing 800 may be manufacturedinto one or two components.

The lower end of the watering housing 800 may be disposed to be spacedfrom the undersurface of the water tank 30 by a certain gap.

The watering housing 800 may include a first watering housing 820, asecond watering housing 840, a watering housing cover 860, and awatering power transmission part 880.

The watering housing 800 may be assembled with the power transmissionshaft 640, and may include a structure disposed therein and receiving atorque from the power transmission shaft 640. In this embodiment, inrelation to the watering housing 800, the watering power transmissionpart 880 and the watering housing cover 860 may be assembled with thepower transmission shaft 640 and receive a torque.

A configuration of the power transmission shaft 640 may be examined asfollows.

In relation to the power transmission shaft 640, screw threads 643 and644 may be formed at the upper end and the lower end, respectively, andbearing support ends 641 and 645 and a shaft support end 642 may beformed at the outer circumferential surface.

The screw thread 643 may be assembled with the watering housing cover860. The lower end screw thread 644 may be assembled with the secondcoupler 620.

The bearing support ends 641 and 645 and the shaft support end 642 maybe formed by varying the diameter of the power transmission shaft 640.The bearing support ends 641 and 645 may be for supporting a bearing.The shaft support end 642 may be for supporting the watering powertransmission part 880.

The lower end screw thread 644 may be directly fastened to the secondcoupler 620. In this embodiment, a separate coupler coupling member 646may be disposed at a power transmission coupling part 627 of the secondcoupler 620 and the power transmission shaft 640 and the second coupler620 are coupled through the coupler coupling member 646.

A power transmission shaft groove 626 may be vertically formed at theouter circumferential surface of the coupler coupling member 646, and ascrew thread (not shown) assembled with the lower end screw thread 644may be formed at the inner circumferential surface.

Hereinafter, each configuration of the watering housing 800 will bedescribed as follows.

The first watering housing 820 may have the upper and lower sidesopened, and may have the pump groove 810 disposed therein. The lower endof the first watering housing 820 may be spaced from the undersurface ofthe water tank 30 by a certain gap to form a suction gap 801.

The second watering housing 840 may have the upper and lower sidesopened, and may be assembled with the upper end of the first wateringhousing 820.

The watering housing cover 860 may be coupled to the upper end of thesecond watering housing 840, and may cover the upper surface of thesecond watering housing 840.

The watering power transmission part 880 may be connected to at leastone of the first watering housing 820 and the second watering housing840 to receive a torque of the power transmission module 600. In thisembodiment, the watering power transmission part 880 may be connected tothe first watering housing 820.

Unlike this embodiment, the first watering housing 820 and the secondwatering housing 840 may be integrally manufactured. Also, unlike thisembodiment, the first watering housing 820 and watering housing cover860 may be integrally manufactured.

The upper section of the first watering housing 820 may be larger thanthe lower section thereof. The first watering housing 820 may form anoblique in upward and downward directions. The first watering housing820 may have a conical shape, a lower section of which is narrow.

The pump groove 810 may be disposed inside the first watering housing820. The pump groove 810 may be formed in a vertical direction. The pumpgroove 810 may be radially disposed around the watering motor shaft 43.The pump groove 810 may be disposed in plurality, and may protrude tothe axial center of the watering housing 800.

The lower end of the first watering housing 820 may be spaced from theundersurface of the water tank 30 to form the suction gap 801. The upperend of the first watering housing 820 may be coupled to the lower end ofthe second watering housing 840.

The first watering housing 820 and the second watering housing 840 maybe assembled and disassembled. In this embodiment, the first wateringhousing 820 and the second watering housing 840 may be assembled throughscrew coupling. The first watering housing 820 may have a screw thread822 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the upper sidethereof, and the second watering housing 840 may have a screw thread 842formed on the inner circumferential surface of the lower side thereof.

The screw thread 822 formed on the first watering housing 820 may bedefined as a first thread 822, and the screw thread 842 formed on thesecond watering housing 840 may be defined as a second thread 842.

A first barrier 823 may be formed under the first thread 822 to restrictthe movement of the second watering housing 840. The first barrier 823may be formed in a circumferential direction of the first wateringhousing 820. The first barrier 823 may be formed into a strip shape, andmay outwardly protrude from the first watering housing 820.

When the first watering housing 820 and the second watering housing 840are assembled, the first barrier 823 may adhere closely to the lower endof the second watering housing 840. The first barrier 823 may outwardlyprotrude more than the first thread 822.

A first packing 825 may be disposed between the first thread 822 and thefirst barrier 823. The first packing 825 may prevent water from leakingto from the inside of the watering housing 800 to the outside. The firstpacking 825 may be formed of an elastic material. The first packing 825may have a ring shape.

A packing installation rib 824 may be disposed to fix the location ofthe first packing 825. The packing installation rib may be disposed onthe extension line of the first thread 822. The packing installation rib824 may be a portion of the first thread 822.

Accordingly, the first thread 822 may be formed in plurality, and may bediscontinuously distributed.

The normal nozzle 411 may be disposed at the first watering housing 820.In this embodiment, the normal nozzle 411 may be disposed in two. Thetwo normal nozzles 411 may be disposed so as to direct the oppositedirection to each other.

The normal nozzle 411 may communicate the inner and outer sides of thefirst watering housing 820. In this embodiment, the aperture area of theinside of the normal nozzle 411 may be larger than the aperture area ofthe outside of the normal nozzle 411.

A watering blade 850 may be formed on the outer circumferential surfaceof the second watering housing 840. The watering blade 850 may allowhumidified air to flow. Additionally, the watering blade 850 may beformed in a direction for pressing the watering housing 800 downwardly.When the watering housing 800 rotates, the watering housing 800 mayreceive a pressure upwardly by the pumped water. The watering blade 850may be formed to press the watering housing 800 downwardly.

When the watering housing 800 rotates, the watering blade 850 mayattract ambient air and flow it downwardly. Air of the humidificationflow passage 106 disposed in the watering housing 800 may mostly flow tothe discharge flow passage 107 by the operation of the blower fan 24,but air around the watering blade 850 may flow in the oppositedirection.

The watering blade 850 may locally form an air flow opposite to an airflow by the blower fan 24. The air flow by the watering blade 850 mayhave an effect of flowing water particles around the watering housing800 into the water tank 30. The watering blade 850 may have an effect ofgenerating a wind direction and attracting water particles of thehumidification space 106.

Additionally, the air flow by the watering blade 850 may serve to gatherdropping water toward the watering housing 800 when water drops from thewater supply flow passage 109 to the upper part of the watering housing800.

When the watering housing 800 rotates and water is supplied through thewater supply flow passage 109, water may hit the surface of the wateringhousing 800 to be irregularly scattered. The air flow by the wateringblade 850 may implement an effect of gathering water particles scatteredduring water supply toward the surface of the watering housing 800.

High-speed nozzles 412 and 413 may be formed at the second wateringhousing 840. The high-speed nozzles 412 and 413 may spray water towardthe visual body 210. In this embodiment, the two high-speed nozzles 412and 413 may be disposed. The high-speed nozzles are defined as a firsthigh-speed nozzle 412 and a second high-speed nozzle 413.

The first high-speed nozzle 412 and the second high-speed nozzle 413 maybe formed facing an opposite direction based on the power transmissionshaft 640.

In this embodiment, the first high-speed nozzle 412 and the secondhigh-speed nozzle 413 may have a certain height difference. The firsthigh-speed nozzle 412 and the second high-speed nozzle 413 may not bedisposed at the same height.

Due to the height difference between the first high-speed nozzle 412 andthe second high-speed nozzle 413, the location where water is sprayed tothe visual body 210 may be differently set. Accordingly, when thewatering housing 800 rotates, water sprayed from the first high-speednozzle 412 and water sprayed from the second high-speed nozzle 413 maypass different paths.

A path of water hitting the inner side surface of the visual body 210 isdefined as a spray line.

The spray line formed by the first high-speed nozzle 412 may be definedas a first spray line, and the spray line formed by the secondhigh-speed nozzle 413 may be defined as a second spray line.

In this embodiment, water sprayed from the first high-speed nozzle 412may pass any one location of the visual body 210, and after a certaintime, water sprayed from the second high-speed nozzle 413 may passanother location having a different height. That is, two spray lines maybe formed on the inner side surface of the visual body 210, and a usercan more effectively recognize that water is sprayed through this visualshow.

When water is discharged from the two high-speed nozzles disposed at acertain height, only one spray line may be formed. When the wateringhousing 800 rotates at a high speed, a phase difference may be veryshortly formed even though the first and second high-speed nozzles 142and 143 are located at the opposite direction. In this case, an opticalillusion that water flows down from one spray line may be caused.

Meanwhile, when two spray lines are formed, locations which water hitsmay differ. Accordingly, sounds generated by water hitting may bedifferent. That is, a sound generated from the first spray line and asound generated from the second spray line may be different. Due to thissound difference, a user can acoustically check that the wateringhousing 800 is rotating.

The sound differences through the spray lines may have an effect ofefficiently delivering the operation situation to visual or hearingimpaired persons. Also, even in a dark environment, it may be easy tocheck that the humidification and air cleaning apparatus is operating.

Meanwhile, a water curtain preventing rib 870 may be disposed in thesecond watering housing 840 to prevent a water curtain rotation flow.The water curtain rotation flow may mean a flow rotating along the innerside surface of the watering housing 800.

The pump groove 810 of the first watering housing 820 may be for formingthe water curtain rotation flow, and the water curtain preventing rib870 may be for preventing the water curtain rotation flow.

In the first watering housing 820, since water needs to be pumped up tothe second watering housing 840, the water curtain rotation flow may beactively generated. However, in regard to water raised up to the secondwatering housing 840, when the water curtain rotation flow is notformed, water may be easily sprayed through the high-speed nozzles 412and 413.

When a high-speed water curtain rotation flow is formed inside thesecond watering housing 840, water may not be discharged through thehigh-speed nozzles 412 and 413, and may flow along the inside.

Also, when a larger amount of water stays in the second watering housing840, the vibration of the watering housing 800 may increase. Only whenwater pumped to the second watering housing 840 is quickly sprayedthrough the high-speed nozzles 412 and 413, the eccentricity of thewatering housing 800 can be minimized, and thus the vibration accordingthereto can be minimized.

The water curtain preventing rib 870 may minimize the water curtainrotation flow, and thus may serve to minimize the eccentricity andvibration of the watering housing 800.

The water curtain preventing rib 870 may protrude from the inner sidesurface of the second watering housing 840 toward the power transmissionshaft 640. The water curtain preventing rib 870 may be formed in adirection of crossing the water curtain rotation flow.

The water curtain rotation flow may form a spiral form or circular formalong the inner side surface of the second watering housing 840, andthus the water curtain preventing rib 870 may be formed in upward anddownward directions.

In this embodiment, the water curtain preventing rib 870 may be formedin a vertical direction. The water curtain preventing rib 870 may bedisposed in plurality. In this embodiment, three water curtainpreventing ribs 870 may be disposed. The plurality of water curtainpreventing ribs 870 may be disposed at equal intervals based on thepower transmission shaft 640.

In this embodiment, the water curtain preventing rib 870 may protrude byabout 5 mm. The protrusion length of the water curtain preventing rib870 may relate to the thickness of the water curtain rotation flow, andmay be variously changed in accordance with embodiments.

The water curtain preventing rib 870 may be connected to the wateringpower transmission part 880 described later. As the water curtainpreventing rib 870 is manufactured to be connected to the watering powertransmission part 880, it is possible to simplify the mold.

The watering power transmission part 880 may be a component fordelivering a torque of the power transmission shaft 640 to the wateringhousing 800.

In this embodiment, the watering power transmission part 880 may beconnected to the second watering housing 840. Unlike this embodiment,the watering power transmission part 880 may also be connected to thefirst watering housing 820.

In this embodiment, the watering power transmission part 880 may bemanufactured integrally with the second watering housing 840. Unlikethis embodiment, the watering power transmission part 880 may bemanufactured at the second watering housing 840.

The watering power transmission part 880 may include a bushinginstallation part 882 located at the axial center of the wateringhousing 800, and a watering connection part 884 connecting the bushinginstallation part 882 and the watering housing 800. In this embodiment,the bushing installation part 882, the watering connection part 884, andthe second watering housing 820 may be integrally injection-molded.

The watering connection part 884 may be manufactured into a rib shape.The watering connection part 884 may be radially disposed based on theaxial center, and may be disposed in plurality.

In this embodiment, the watering connection part 884 may be manufacturedintegrally with the water curtain preventing rib 870. The wateringconnection part 884 and the water curtain preventing rib 870 may beconnected to each other.

The power transmission shaft 640 may be installed so as to penetrate thebushing installation part 882.

The lower side of the bushing installation part 882 may be opened. Abushing 90 may be inserted through the lower side of the bushinginstallation part 882.

The bushing installation part 882 and the bushing 90 may be separated ina vertical direction. The bushing installation part 882 and the bushing90 may be subject to mutual stopping in a rotation direction.

For this, a bushing stopping part 93 may be formed on any one of thebushing installation part 882 and the bushing 90, and a bushing stoppinggroove 883 may be formed on the other. In this embodiment, the bushingstopping part 93 may be formed on the bushing 90, and the bushingstopping groove 883 may be formed in the bushing installation part 882.

The bushing stopping groove 883 may be formed in the inner side surfaceof the bushing installation part 882, and may have a concave shape. Thebushing stopping part 93 may be formed on the outer surface of thebushing 90, and may have a convex shape.

The bushing stopping part 93 may be inserted and fitted into the bushingstopping groove 882.

The bushing 90 may be coupled to the power transmission shaft 640 of thepower transmission module 600.

The bushing 90 may be coupled to the power transmission shaft 640 toreceive a torque. The bushing 90 may be formed of a metallic material.When the bushing 90 is not formed of a hard metallic material, abrasionmay occur, thereby causing vibration.

The bushing 90 may have a bushing shaft hollow 91 penetrated in avertical direction. The power transmission shaft 640 may be insertedinto the bushing shaft hollow 91.

When the watering housing 800 rotates, the bushing 90 may reducevibration. The bushing 90 may be located on the power transmission shaft640. In this embodiment, the bushing 90 may be located at the center ofgravity of the watering housing 800. Since the bushing 90 is located atthe center of gravity of the watering housing 800, the bushing 90 cansignificantly reduce the vibration of the watering housing 800 duringthe rotation.

The bushing 90 and the power transmission shaft 640 may be assembled bya fitting method. The bushing 90 may be supported by the powertransmission shaft 640.

In order to support the bushing 90, the power transmission shaft 640 mayinclude a shaft support end 642. The diameter at the upper side may besmaller than the diameter at the lower side based on the shaft supportend 642.

The bushing 90 may be inserted through the upper end of the powertransmission shaft 640.

In order to minimize abrasion, the shaft support end 642 may be formedinto tapered, chamfered or rounded shape. When the shaft support end 642is formed into a right-angled shape, abrasion may occur during theassembling process or the operation process.

When the shaft support end 642 is abraded, the bushing 90 may move,thereby causing vibration. Also, the shaft support end 642 is abraded,the bushing 90 may incline or move, and thus misalignment with the powertransmission shaft 640 may occur. Also, when misalignment between thebushing 90 and the power transmission shaft 640, eccentricity may occurduring rotation, and thus vibration may occur.

A bushing support end 92 supported by the shaft support end 642 may beformed at the bushing shaft hollow 91. The bushing shaft hollow 91 mayhave a smaller diameter at the upper side and a larger diameter at thelower side on the basis of the bushing support end 92.

In this embodiment, the shaft support end 642 and the bushing supportend 92 may be configured to correspond to one point. Unlike thisembodiment, the shaft support end 642 and the bushing support end 92 maybe configured to correspond to two or more points. In this case, theshaft support end 641 may be disposed in plurality in the lengthdirection of the power transmission shaft 640, and the bushing supportend 92 may be disposed in plurality in the length direction inside thebushing shaft hollow 91.

Although the shaft support end 642 and the bushing support end 92 aredisposed at the middle part in this embodiment, this is irrelevant tothe positions and functions of the shaft support end 642 and the bushingsupport end 92. For example, the shaft support end 642 and the bushingsupport end 92 may be disposed at the upper side or the lower side ofthe bushing shaft hollow 91.

A shaft stopping surface 645 for forming a mutual stopping with thebushing 90 during rotation may be formed at the power transmission shaft640. The shaft stopping surface 645 may be vertically formed at theouter circumferential surface of the power transmission shaft 640. Theshaft stopping surface 645 may be connected to the shaft support end642. In this embodiment, the shaft support end 642 may be disposed atthe upper side of the shaft stopping surface 645.

A bushing stopping surface 95 corresponding to the shaft stoppingsurface 645 may be formed at the bushing 90. The bushing stoppingsurface 95 is a surface for forming a hushing shaft hollow 91. In thisembodiment, the shaft stopping surface 645 and the bushing stoppingsurface 95 may be disposed in plurality. Unlike this embodiment, it maybe regardless that the shaft stopping surface 645 and the bushingstopping surface 95 are disposed at only one point.

A mutual stopping of the shaft stopping surface 645 and the bushingstopping surface 95 and a mutual stopping of the shaft support end 642and the bushing support end 92 are alignment means for aligning thebushing 90.

The shaft stopping surface 645 and the bushing stopping surface 95 mayprovide an alignment function with respect to a vertical direction. Amutual stopping of the shaft support end 642 and the bushing support end92 may provide an alignment function with respect to a horizontaldirection.

A mutual stopping of the shaft support end 642 and the bushing supportend 92 and a mutual stopping of the shaft stopping surface 645 and thebushing stopping surface 95 may provide an alignment with respect todifferent directions.

Since an alignment means provides an alignment with respect to aplurality of directions, the bushing 90 can be more accurately installedand defective assembly can be minimized.

The watering housing cover 860 may be coupled to the upper side of thesecond watering housing 840 and seal the upper side of the secondwatering housing 840. The watering housing cover 860 may bescrew-coupled to the second watering housing 840.

In this embodiment, the watering housing cover 860 may be assembled withthe power transmission module 600. Unlike this embodiment, it may beregardless that the watering housing cover 860 is separated from thepower transmission module 600. When the watering housing cover 860 iscoupled to the power transmission shaft 640, the eccentricity andvibration of the watering housing 800 can be more effectively reduced.

The watering housing cover 860 may include a cover body 862 covering theupper opening of the second watering housing 840, a cover body border863 downwardly extending from the cover body 862 and covering the upperend of the second watering housing 840, a packing installation rib 864disposed under the cover body 862 and spaced from the cover body border863 by a certain gap, a shaft fixing part 866 fixed to the powertransmission shaft 640, and a reinforcing rib 868 connecting the shaftfixing part 866 and the packing installation rib 864.

When viewed from top, the cover body 862 may have a circular shape. Thediameter of the cover body 862 may be larger than the diameter of thesecond watering housing 840.

The cover body border 863 may form the edge of the cover body 862. Thecover body border 863 may be formed in a ring shape, and may bemanufactured integrally with the cover body 862. The cover body border863 may have a plurality of protrusions 861 formed on the outer surfacethereof, and the protrusions 861 may be formed along the circumferentialdirection of 360 degrees of a circumference of the cover body border863. The protrusion 861 may provide a grip feeling for a user when thewatering housing cover 860 is separated.

The packing installation rib 864 may be located inside the cover bodyborder 863, and may be spaced from the cover body border 863 by acertain distance. A second packing 865 may be disposed between the coverbody border 863 and the packing installation rib 864.

The second packing 865 may seal a gap between the watering housing cover860 and the second watering housing 840.

The cover body border 863 and the second watering housing 840 may bescrew-coupled. In this embodiment, the watering housing cover 860 andthe second watering housing 840 may be assembled through tight fitting.

The shaft fixing part 866 may be assembled with the power transmissionshaft 640, and may receive a torque from the power transmission shaft640.

The shaft fixing part 866 and the power transmission shaft may bescrew-coupled. For this, a screw thread 643 for screw coupling with thewatering housing cover 860 may be formed on the outer circumferentialsurface of the upper end of the power transmission shaft 640.

A screw thread for assembling with the power transmission shaft 640 maybe formed on the shaft fixing part 866. In this embodiment, a shaftfixing member 867 may be disposed on shaft fixing part 866, and theshaft fixing member 867 may be integrally double injection-molded on theshaft fixing part 866. In this embodiment, a nut may be used for theshaft fixing member 867.

Unlike the watering housing cover 860, the shaft fixing member 867 maybe formed of a metallic material. Since the power transmission shaft 640is formed of a metallic material, a part screw-coupled to the powertransmission shaft 640 also needs to be formed of a metallic material toprevent abrasion or damage during coupling. When the whole of thewatering housing cover 860 is formed of a metallic material, or when theshaft fixing part 866 is formed of a metallic material, it may bedesirable to form a screw thread on the shaft fixing part 866 itself.

The watering housing cover 860 may have a diameter larger than thediameter of the second watering housing 840. When viewed from upperside, only the watering housing cover 860 may be exposed, and the secondwatering housing 840 and the first watering housing 820 may not beexposed.

Accordingly, at least a portion of water supplied to the water supplyflow passage 109 may drop down on the watering housing cover 860. Whenthe watering housing 800 rotates, water dropping on the watering housingcover 860 may be outwardly scattered from the surface of the wateringhousing cover 860 in a radiation direction.

The rotating watering housing cover 860 may spray supplied waster alongthe rotation direction, and an effect as if water drops from an umbrellacan be achieved. Particularly, water drops may be broken away from theplurality of protrusions 861 which are disposed in a circumferentialdirection of the watering housing cover 860.

Water sprayed from the watering housing cover 860 in a rotationdirection may collide with the inner side surface of the visual body210, and may create a rain view.

The rain view may mean a situation in which droplets formed on the innerside surface of the visual body 210 flow down like rain drops.

A humidification and air cleaning apparatus according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention has at least one of the followingeffects.

First, since the water curtain preventing rib is disposed to prevent theswirling flow of pumped water inside the watering housing, water can beeffectively sprayed from the nozzle.

Second, since the water curtain preventing rib is connected to the powertransmission unit, eccentricity of the watering housing can beminimized, and vibration of the watering housing can be prevented.

Third, since the nozzle is disposed between the water curtain preventingribs, the swirling of pumped water can be prevented, and may bedischarged through the nozzle due to the centrifugal force.

Fourth, since the power transmission shaft is coupled to the wateringhousing through the power transmission unit and the water curtainpreventing rib, vibration of the watering housing that rotates at a highspeed can be minimized.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above; othereffects that are not described herein will be clearly understood by thepersons skilled in the art from the following claims.

While this invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims. The preferred embodimentsshould be considered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Therefore, the scope of the invention is defined not by thedetailed description of the invention but by the appended claims, andall differences within the scope will be construed as being included inthe present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A humidification and air cleaning apparatuscomprising: a water tank to store water; a watering housing rotatablydisposed in the water tank to spray water stored in the water tank; awatering groove protruding inside the watering housing to draw water ofthe water tank into the water wheel housing and to pump the drawn waterto an upper side of the watering housing during rotation of the wateringhousing; a nozzle disposed in the watering housing to spray the pumpedwater to an outside of the watering housing; and a water curtainpreventing rib disposed inside the watering housing, disposed over thewatering groove to interfere with the pumped water.
 2. Thehumidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the watercurtain preventing rib longitudinally extends in upward and downwarddirections.
 3. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 1,wherein the water curtain preventing rib is disposed in plurality. 4.The humidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 1, wherein thenozzle is located between a higher end and a lower end of the watercurtain preventing rib.
 5. The humidification and air cleaning apparatusof claim 1, wherein: the water curtain preventing rib is disposed inplurality; each of water curtain preventing ribs is longitudinallydisposed in upward and downward directions; and the nozzle is disposedbetween the water curtain preventing ribs.
 6. The air conditioner ofclaim 1, further comprising a watering motor to provide a torque to thewatering housing, wherein the watering housing comprises: a firstwatering housing spaced from an undersurface of an inner side of thewater tank by a suction gap; a second watering housing coupled with anupper end of the first watering housing; a watering housing covercoupled with an upper end of the watering housing to cover an uppersurface of the second watering housing; and a power transmission unitdisposed in at least one of the first watering housing, the secondwatering housing and the watering housing cover to receive a torque fromthe watering motor, wherein the nozzle is disposed in at least one ofthe first watering housing and the second watering housing, and thewater curtain preventing rib is disposed in the second watering housing.7. The humidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 6, wherein thewatering groove is disposed in the first watering housing.
 8. Thehumidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 6, wherein thewatering groove is connected to the power transmission unit.
 9. Thehumidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 6, further comprisinga power transmission shaft coupled to the power transmission unit toreceive a torque from the watering motor, wherein the power transmissionshaft is disposed inside the watering housing.
 10. The humidificationand air cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the watering groove isconnected to the power transmission unit.
 11. The humidification and aircleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein a portion of the powertransmission unit is disposed inside the first watering housing.
 12. Thehumidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein thewatering groove longitudinally extends in upward and downwarddirections, and is connected to the power transmission unit.
 13. Thehumidification and air cleaning apparatus of claim 9, wherein the watercurtain preventing rib is disposed in plurality, and the nozzle isdisposed between the water curtain preventing ribs.